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THE AURORA
KARAKUL SHEEP CO.

BREEDERS OF KARAKUL SHEEP
W. D. WATSON

SECRETARY-TREASURER

AND
MANAGING DIRECTOR

AURORA ^ ^ ONTARIO

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THE KARAKUL

KARAKUL sheep are fur-bearing sheep. Their native home is
in Central Asia in the Province of Bokhara, a country lying
between Turkestan and Afghanistan, about 600 miles east of
the Caspian Sea. The name Karakul as applied to the sheep is
taken from Kara Kul (Black Lake), a village in Bokhara.

This country is more or less barren with very little rainfall, the
summers being very hot and dry. Vegetation is extremely scant.
The winters are very severe, with temperature often far below zero
and the ground heavily covered with snow. With these extremes in
climate, together with other natural causes, we find developed a very
hardy type of sheep. In fact, they have much in their favor to gain for
themselves the title of the hardiest domestic sheep known.

The origin of this type of sheep is somewhat obscure. Two great
classes of sheep have inhabited central and western Asia for centuries.
They belong to the fat-rump and the broad-tail types. The Karakul
breeds belong to the broad-tail type and are said to have sprung from a
cross between the black long-tailed Danadar sheep (now nearly extinct)^
and the fat-rump sheep. There are three main types of the Karakul
sheep — Arabi, Shiraz, and Duzbai. The Arabi sheep are small fur-
bearing sheep, supposedly from Arabia. They are not very numerous.
The Shiraz or white Persian fur sheep are gray in color and produce the
valuable Krimmer fur. It is the Karakul of the Duzbai type that gives
the finest and closest curl to the fur.

Karakuls of the Duzbai type are large sheep. Generally, the
rams are horned and the ewes are hornless. The head is long and
narrow, and the nose very arching, being a pronounced Roman nose.
The ears are of medium size and pendant. The withers are high and
quite prominent. The body is somewhat long and fairly deep, the loin
is broad, the rump very sloping. The tail is broad, flat, and extremely
fat, often weighing from ten to twenty pounds in mature males. The
bone is strong, clean, and not too large. The mutton is of excellent
quality.

The Karakul is a very hardy type of sheep. Because of its natural
environment it is well adapted to sections of extreme temperature and
limited rainfall. It is of great value for crossing with range sheep
and with our medium-wooled breeds. The resulting lambs are exception^
ally large and strong at birth; they are very thrifty and develop rapidly.

KARAKUL SHEEP

easily weighing close to 100 pounds when in ripe condition for the market
Lambs can easily be made to gain one pound a day for the first sixtj
days. Both the pure-breds and the grades are well suited fo:
hillside land pasture, as they are good grazers, being able to make large
growth on rough, scant pasture.

The ewes are quite prolific. They breed regularly, and in som«
cases twice a year, although this is not desirable from the standpoin
of best results in maintaining vigor and size of the breeds.

The color at birth is, in nearly every case, jet black — a color mucJ
preferred. Occasionally a lamb is born that has a white spot on th(
head or tail, or both. At birth and up to three to five days, the lamb;
have a coat of very close, lustrous fur. It is this fur, known as Persiar
lamb fur, which is so valuable and in such demand. To be of greates
value, the fur should show a tight-curling lustrous condition and b<
jet blaek in color. The beauty of the pattern formed by the irregula:
arrangement of the curls, and the fineness and softness of the coat alsc
adds much to its value. The desired condition of the skin of the lamt
soon disappears as it grows older. Even when a day or two old, the
curls begin to loosen and the fleece grows in length; as the lamb nears
six months the color gradually changes to gray.

The first importation of Karakul sheep to the United States was made
in 1908 by Dr. C. C. Young, a native Russian and a naturalized citizen
In this importation there were five rams and ten ewes. These were
secured, after overcoming many difficulties, at a cost of over $25,000
A second lot of these sheep were brought to America by Dr. Young in
the spring of 1913. This importation consisted of eleven rams and six
ewes. A third, and probably the last importation of Karakuls which
will ever come to America, was made in 1914, consisting of fifteen rams
and six ewes. In 1914, The Agnew Syndicate and Royal Investment
Co., of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, brought out a flock of
Karakuls and Duzbais, which were purchased in the vicinity of Old
Bokhara. These left Lebau, a Russian seaport, some ten days before
the City was bombarded by the Germans. For some reason the cargo
of sheep was transferred to another vessel in the North Sea, and after
many hair-breadth escapes, the vessel, manned by a German crew, were
obliged to put into the port of St John, Newfoundland.

The importers were unable to land this flock in Canada and it was
kept in Newfoundland for two years. It numbered some 130 head of
the best Persian lamb fur flocks of Bokhara and Western Turkestan.

We now note that the total number of Karakuls imported by Dr.
Young to the United States are fifty-three head. Of this number
thirty-one were rams and twenty-two ewes. Altogether, some 180
head have been brought to America.

KARAKUL SHEEP

From what has been said it is plain that the Karakul sheep do
not appear to us among breeds such as for instance the English and
others, as a strongly developed classical breed with a very precise stan-
dard. The Karakul sheep were not developed as a classical breed.

When the Great World War came the Province of Bokhara was
ravaged by conquest, followed by disease, poverty and pestilence.
Most animals were slaughtered for food and clothing and the Karakul
Breed of sheep was practically exterminated.

A MUTTON RECORD.
Total Number Inspected.

Cattle

Hogs

Sheep

10,000,938

26,916,363

13,005,502

Condemned

Condemned

Condemned

Carcasses
27,390

Parts
49,393

Carcasses
31,517

Parts
870,361

Carcasses
None

Parts
None

The mental, physical and financial condition of humanity will be
improved by using mutton as their meat food.

In some specimens of the breed there is a noticeable amount of finer
and softer wool near the skin. This undercoat is not desired in breeding
animals, as it is stated that lambs having the best curl and luster come
from parents having the least fine wool. Karakul fleeces are commonly
sold as carpet wool. A pronounced glossiness of the hair of the face
and legs and evidence of curls on these are regarded as Indications of
ability to produce lambs with skins of good luster and curled all over.

The development of the fur sheep industry in America is in its
infancy and perhaps because of this fact, coupled with the great demand
for "Persian fur" skins, the future of this new branch of sheep husbandry
is very bright. There is much to be learned regarding the breeding
and management of this type of sheep. Considerable knowledge has
been gained about them since their first importation. Two important
points stand out as quite definitely established: first, that the pure-bred
Karakul sheep can be kept successfully and economically under American
conditions as far as climate, soil, feeding, and housing are concerned;
second, that pure-bred Karakul rams crossed on ewes of certain of our
native sheep produce lambs of which a very large percentage possess
skins that grade high as "Persian lamb fur."

KARAKUL SHEEP

The United States imports about $14,000,000 worth of Astrakhan
Persian Lamb, and Krimmer fur each year. American farmers migh
just as well have that money, and much more. The popularity of thes(
furs in this country would mean a much larger market for them if th*
industry were brought home. There can be no doubt of an increasing
demand for furs of all kinds. The American people are facing a con
dition in which the supply of furs is entirely inadequate to the demands
So there not only is an unsatisfied demand for furs of all sorts, but then
is an opportunity, by bringing the sheep industry home, of creating
larger demand if the supply should warrant it.

The skins obtained from crossing Karakul rams with common sheep
range from three dollars to ten dollars, and average from five to si>
dollars per skin.

The demand for half-blood Karakul ewes is far beyond the supply,
and more than one hundred head were sold last year at $250 per head,

The production of half-bloods for fur and breeding is a growing and
profitable industry. That this last point is of much concern to all owners
of native sheep, whether pure-bred or grade, will be manifest when we
note that according to the United States Government reports the
imports of raw skins for "Persian lamb fur" amounted to the enormous
sum of $14,000,000 in 1914. Because of the uncertainty of the ship-
ments from across the water, there is a great opportunity for this induS'
try; because of the limited number of pure-bred Karakul rams and
their high value, it will be advantageous to breed these rams to sheep
of our domestic breeds. The breeds best adapted for this work are the
long, coarse-wool breeds, especially the Black Faced Highland, Cotswold,
Lincoln, and Leicester. Selected and tested Karakul rams should be
used, as this will insure greater success.

Since the number cf Karakul skins available for fur purposes from
American sheep ranches is infinitesimal compared with the needs cf the
trade, the American fur industry must look ahead. We all recognize
the serious problem that faces the industry in the diminishing numbers
of wild animals and when a possibility of propagating future supplies
of fur-bearers presents itself we should in self-defence receive it with
real interest and active support.

With regard to the present general conditions of the Karakul industry,
it may be remarked that in later years there has been noticed in general
a considerable increase cf interest in this branch cf the fur industry,
occasioned by an increased demand for furs and similar material.

The increased demand caused an excessive increase in the price,
but did not cause the introduction of any measures looking to the
preservation, encouragement and further extension in Asia and Southern

KARAKUL SHEEP

Russia of this so profitable breed of sheep. Thus the prices of Karakul
[fur during the last fifteen years have risen MO per cent, and thorough'
bred sheep and rams which formerly were worth $200 to $500, judging
by given estimates, are now sold from $500 to $1200.

The hides of the Iambs of the Karakul sheep, on account of their
special qualities hold an entirely exclusive place in the world's fur
market. The Karakul seems to be the only fur which is common
among all civilized nations, and besides the only fur which is worn by
persons of both sexes and of all classes, old and young. On the strength
of its qualities, its general form, beauty and desirability, together with
ts comparative cheapness, the Karakul fur has almost become one of
man's necessaries of life, and for this reason fashions cannot fluctuate
much with reference to Karakul in the world's markets. The world-
renowned furs are the almost exclusive gift of one comparatively small
oasis in Turkestan. Up to date the only place in the world that has
produced these "Black Rose" furs has been the Province of Bokhara,
and the chief market-place of the furs, the market of Nym Novgorod.

Of equal importance, perhaps, is the fact that crossing Karakuls on
native sheep results in a great increase in weight.

If the hybrids produced follow the Mendelian law of inheritance it
will be possible by crossing the half-bloods back to the pure Karakuls
to get any number of pure-bred Karakuls without the necessity of
importing more rams from Asia. But if the hybrids of pure strains
in the second generation do not split up into pure-bred Karakuls and
pure-bred Lincolns according to the Mendelian law, but blend and
breed true, then a new breed of sheep will result. Such a breed, if it
should combine the good qualities of the Karakul and of some native
breeds, would be a valuable one for this country.

As a fur producer the Karakul Sheep easily surpass all other fur
producing animals. Being fully domesticated the male will mate one
hundred or more females in one season. The Karakul ewe will produce
twice a year when her lambs are killed for fur. The skin of a prematurely
born lamb is valuable, but the mother is never killed to obtain the pelt.

The future of the Karakul sheep industry lies in the hands of the
large sheep ranchers, providing the sheep ranchers are thoroughly
convinced that it will pay them to buy Karakul rams and that they can
find an immediate market for their Karakul lamb skins.

Herein lies the work for the fur trade. Those who can look ahead
and have the ambition and capital to work with the sheep men will be
the ones to reap the profits a few years from now.

Grand & Toy Limited
Stationers and Printers